Pembroke Pines considers spending $24 million on public theater

PEMBROKE PINES — The city may build a public theater that could cost up to $24 million and seat up to 5,000, making it one of the largest venues in Broward County.

The 69,825-square-foot building proposed by Stiles Construction would seat more than the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the Parker Playhouse and the performance centers owned by Sunrise and Miramar. The building would be about the same size as the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood.

"We could have Michael Buble, Smokey Robinson, some performers for young people, some for older people," said Commissioner Angelo Castillo.

The public theater would be the focal point of City Center, commissioners said — a reason to come to Pembroke Pines' government-planned downtown area. City Center is the empty lot on Pines Boulevard on which the city has spent $69 million so far in hopes to transform it into a walkable downtown.

Commissioners hope the lack of a venue this large in south Broward means the facility will make money, and argued that the region deserves a space large enough for events such as high school graduations.

"There are certain things a city or a region should have, and not have to drive 28 miles to another city to find," Castillo said.

The stage and most of the seating would be mobile, so the space could be changed for various crowd sizes and stage configurations.

The city has the money to build it, said City Manager Charles Dodge. Pines has $16 million leftover from a bond meant for public improvements, and the city might get $9 million soon for the sale of some city lands.

But the city may also take out $10 million more in loans, since so far it has taken out $90 million of the $100 million approved by voters in 2005.

"We don't need to take on more debt right now," said Commissioner Iris Siple. "It's financially a very bad decision."

The commission also doesn't like the $24 million price tag on Stiles Construction's plan and won't approve the plan until that comes down, said Mayor Frank Ortis. City staff are negotiating with the company.